1 month ago
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..No senator receives monetary patronage from Presidency – Adaramodu
…Reps reply Obasanjo, say 10th assembly driven by patriotism
By Tunde Opalana
The Nigerian Senate has issued a strong denial of allegations suggesting that it is involved in determining its own salaries or receiving special fiscal packages from the Presidency.
These claims, which reportedly surfaced during a visit by members of the House of Representatives to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, have sparked widespread public concern.
In a statement on Sunday released by Senate Spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu, who represents Ekiti South, the Senate described the allegations as an attempt to “crucify the legislature by the centurions of political hypocrisy.”
Senator Adaramodu emphasised that no Senator has received any financial patronage from the Presidency.
He clarified that the constituency projects often linked to the legislature are merely suggested and nominated by Senators, following practices common in other democracies worldwide.
To set the record straight, the Senate stressed that it only receives the salary allocated to it by the Revenue Mobilisation Fiscal Allocation Commission, in strict accordance with constitutional provisions.
The Senate challenged anyone with credible evidence to present contrary facts, describing any suggestion that the National Assembly fixes its own salaries as “uncharitable and satanic.”
The Senate further explained that “the Executive arm of government, through its various Ministries and agencies, is responsible for awarding contracts for the constituency projects. The funds allocated for these projects, vary depending on the number of constituencies in each state and the intention is to ensure that every region of Nigeria benefits from federal resources”.
As the country enters what some describe as a “season of political pontificating, Adaramodu assured the public that the 10th Assembly remains a “responsible and responsive chamber.”
It reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the economy and growth of Nigeria, insisting that it only receives what is constitutionally allocated to it and would never seek additional perks from other branches of government.
The statement reads: “Nigerian Senate is petrified by the tattling story of determining its own salaries and receiving a special fiscal package from the Presidency.
“This sordid and telltale assertion was amplified during a visit of a group of House of Representatives members to the former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“To straighten the records, the Senate receives only the salary allocated constitutionally by the Revenue Mobilisation Fiscal Allocation Commission. We challenge anyone who is privileged, either in qualified or absolute position to bring forth any contrary fact.
“The Senators or the National Assembly do not and cannot fix their salaries. Any suggestions contrary is uncharitable and satanic. It’s only an attempt to crucify the legislature by the centurions of political hypocrisy.
“It’s pertinent to inform the unsuspecting public that no Senator has received any monetary patronage from the Presidency. The mischievously touted consistency projects are not for the legislators.
“They are only suggested and nominated by the Legislators in accordance with the practice in other Democracies worldwide while the executive arm awards the contracts to qualified contractors and ensures the implementation of the projects through its respective Ministries and agencies. And the amount varies depending on the number of constituencies in each state of the federation. It’s merely a contribution to the Federal budget to ensure that every nook and cranny of Nigeria feels Federal presence.
“We are actually in a season of political pontificating when irreverent scaremongering takes prominence. The 10th Senate is a responsible and responsive chamber, hence would not do anything that can harm the economy and growth of Nigeria, it thus receives only what the relevant agency of government constitutionally allocates to it. And would never solicit for extra ludicrous perks from the other arms of Government.”
In a related development, the House of Representatives saif its members are driven by patriotism and service to Nigerians, not parochial sentiment.
The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, said this on Sunday in Abuja.
Agbese was reacting to claims by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that members of the National Assembly determined their own salaries and allowances.
According to him, the 10th House of Representatives is different from Obasanjo’s era, adding that the former president was using the past to pass judgment on the present.
“As a parliament, we have strived to maintain the highest level of accountability and transparency in all that we do.
“The very respected former president is reacting because of the things that transpired between him and the National Assembly during his time as president.
“This is no longer the case, as quite a lot has been done by the current leadership of the House of Representatives to deliver purposeful leadership to the Nigerian masses,” he said.
Agbese said that the House of Representatives, under the leadership of the Speaker, Tajudeen Abass, was passionately concerned about the welfare of Nigerians.
“In the 10th House of Representatives, we mean everything we say and do for the Nigerian people.
“The era of narrow interest is over. We are here for our people and their collective interests, ” he said.
On allegations that President Bola Tinubu gave the sum of N100 million and N200 million to members of the National Assembly, Agbese said that it did not happen.
He said that Tinubu was getting the support of the National Assembly due to sheer diplomacy and consultation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obasanjo, in a recent media chat, had condemned the lawmakers for deciding their own salaries and allocating frivolous allowances to themselves.
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